The intelligence was shared after CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow on August 25 to warn Russia against provocations targeting NATO members. Lithuania also received briefings on the operation. While U.S. agencies have provided detailed reports on the threat, some observers have dismissed the warnings as anti-Russian hysteria and argued that Russia would not risk its merchant fleet to carry out such strikes.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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CIA Warns Russia May Launch Drone Attacks From Mediterranean Merchant Ships
Geopolitics27 days ago
Airports and ports in Southern Europe are at risk from containerized Russian drones launched from the sea. U.S. intelligence has alerted Spain, France, and Italy that Russia is preparing operations using Gerbera drones to target critical infrastructure, including military facilities. These aircraft, which have a range of 600 km, would be hidden in shipping containers on commercial vessels in the Mediterranean and are designed for disruption rather than large-scale destruction.
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